Hodgman policy attacked

By
LAUREN CAMERON

WILL Hodgman's "splash and dash freight announcement" would do nothing for the majority of Tasmanian exporters, Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne said yesterday.

The backlash comes in the wake of Mr Hodgman's claims that with a majority Liberal government would come the reintroduction of an international shipping service to Asia and a brighter future for Tasmania's economy.

Mr Hodgman said he would address the issue of international export market failure by investing up to $33 million and partnering with industry to ensure the reintroduction of an international shipping service from Tasmania to key Asian ports.

Mr O'Byrne, however, said the state government had been working with industry to develop a sustainable freight solution for the long term.

"Discussions have occurred in relation to this particular proposal from the Tasmanian Exporters Group, but a formal proposal was only received last week - a proposal Mr Hodgman now appears to be committing money to," Mr O'Byrne said.

"Calculations show that what Mr Hodgman is proposing would only cater for around 30 per cent of international export freight.

"Mr Hodgman is not dealing with about 70 per cent of international export freight, and is doing nothing for businesses looking to send their goods across Bass Strait.

"The state government has tasked to find an effective and lasting freight solution. This will help all exporters by understanding all the cost elements of the freight supply chain and ensure that any assistance provides the maximum benefit for the next decade and beyond - not just until the next election.

"Mr Hodgman's approach leaves a huge chunk of our potential exporters high and dry, and fails to deal with the issue of sending goods across Bass Strait."

Mr O'Byrne said Mr Hodgman had also failed to explain where he would find the money to fund his promise.

"Mr Hodgman has never revealed which services he would slash to fund his alternative budgets, and now he's out there splashing the cash around with no proper costings or details on where it will be funded from," he said.

"Mr Hodgman will promise the world to anyone and everyone, but fails to provide any detail or substance."